Wie drops out as Pettersen sets pace at windy Turnberry

The island of Ail…

The controversial Republican Presidential candidate flew in to Scotland for the Women’s British Open at Turnberry this week.

Suzann Pettersen had numerous chances to reduce the leeway on the front nine while Lydia Ko, the world No 2, was hovering menacingly until a damaging excursion into the bunker on the 12th led to a momentum-stopping double-bogey.

Jin-Young, smiling and cheery to the end, performed superbly in her first major championship but it was her Korean compatriot and mentor Park who took the honours with a superbly assembled seven-under 65 for a 12-under tally of 276 and a three stroke victory.

“It’s tough to putt, as well, in conditions like this, so easy pars is a nice thing”.

“I now live in Northern Ireland and I’m a stand up comic and sell digital advertising but caddying for someone like Jin-Young all the time that would be great”.

“I was eating my sandwich — my bread was getting wet in the rain, ” said the 18-year-old Ko, who wore four layers of clothes, hand warmers and ear muffs at times during her round.

World number two Lydia Ko of New Zealand carded a 73 to share second place on 139 with South Korean pair Ryu So-yeon (72) and Ko Jin-young (71) and Taiwan’s Teresa Lu (71).

Michelle Wie withdrew from the Women’s British Open after 13 holes of her second round on Friday, soon after aggravating her left ankle injury by slipping as she walked off a tee box.

Defending champion Mo Martin shot an 80 and missed the cut, which was at 5 over, as did Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer and U.S. Solheim Cup captain Juli Inkster. The American presidential contender, who owns Turnberry, had made the opening round of the year’s fourth major a mere sideshow by landing in his private helicopter during play and grabbing the attention of the media by continuing his election campaigning in the plush hotel overlooking the course.

Pettersen, a two-time major victor, feels invigorated this season following a switch in coach from David Leadbetter to Butch Harmon, the Las Vegas guru who steered Tiger Woods through his hugely successful early years as a professional.

Ko, who opened with a 66, was mightily impressed by Pettersen’s effort.

“Its one of the worst rounds Ive played, conditions-wise, ” said the Swedish player.

Jeff said: “I got in contact with her agent and I said how it would be good for her to have a local caddy”.

“I have a lot of goals left out there that I want to achieve.”.

Top-ranked Inbee Park began her quest to complete a sweep of the majors by shooting 69 in what she described as “perfect conditions for golf”, with three of her five birdies coming in her last five holes.

First round leader Hyo Joo Kim had warned us she didn’t like bad weather, but she managed fairly well until the 11th, standing at eight-under. This ranks pretty high as a good round of golf.